New state data shows Florida teacher shortage near breaking point
Florida’s teacher shortage shows little sign of improving, according to new data approved by the Florida Department of Education. The state is producing about 5,700 new teachers, nearly the same as last year, a number education leaders say is far below what school districts need. Exceptional Student Education remained the state’s most critical area of need, as proposed budget cuts would reduce ESE funding by nearly 20%. Since the 2019 school year, the number of courses taught by out-of-field teachers has nearly doubled statewide. More from WFLA and the News Service of Florida.
Florida could ban foreign H-1B visa faculty at state universities until 2027
Florida could move Thursday to bar its public universities from hiring foreign faculty on H-1B visas for the next year, just months after after Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wanted to “pull the plug” on the higher education system’s use of those visas. The Florida Board of Governors is slated to take steps to abide by DeSantis’ request at a meeting in Tallahassee, a move advocates say will protect jobs for U.S. academics but critics decry as potentially “devastating” to science departments at state schools. More from the Orlando Sentinel and Visa HQ.
Study shows ICUF members make every state dollar count
A new study examining Florida’s higher education landscape says independent colleges and universities are delivering an enviable ROI. The ICUF and EASE Efficiency Study, released Wednesday by the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, evaluates tuition costs, student access, operational efficiency and taxpayer return across Florida’s higher education system. [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida explores tighter rules for charter school co-location
The Florida Department of Education held an online workshop Monday to collect feedback on how to revise and clarify its rules on the co-location of Schools of Hope charter schools in under-used district buildings. The session left frustration in its wake. The department did not present any proposed language on the measure, simply asking participants to submit ideas for how the rule should look. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Can the Florida Legislature keep politics off campuses – and should they?
Protests on college and university campuses aren’t new. Student activism goes back decades, to the civil rights movement and Vietnam. Elected officials and administrators have long torn their hair over how to keep the issues of the day off campuses. A new measure would, among other things, prevent partisan political parties and fundraising at public institutions, which the sponsors say belong to the taxpayers. Some say it would restrict free speech on college campuses. [Source: WUSF]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› U.S. News ranks UF first for online bachelor’s degree programs
The University of Florida ranked No. 1 among institutions offering online bachelor’s degree programs, up one spot from last year, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings released Jan. 27. The university also tied with the University of Kansas for best online Master’s in Education program at No. 2. U.S. News assessed nearly 1,850 online degree programs to produce its 2026 Best Online Programs rankings.
› Pasco parents upset with plan to move virtual school
Plans to move Pasco County’s virtual school operations from a growing magnet school campus to a half-filled middle school have generated criticism from parents who say they were never consulted about the change. The pushback has surprised school district officials, who contend that classroom space is a supplemental benefit to a program designed for students to learn remotely.
› More Orange County school closures might be unavoidable, superintendent says
Orange County Public Schools is preparing to decide whether to close seven schools because of low enrollment. But more may be coming. At a workshop Tuesday, board members looked at rezoning maps mostly. They did point to state funding as an issue, calling on the Legislature to help.
› USF gets $2 million gift to address Florida's nursing shortage
The University of South Florida has received a $2 million gift to support students wanting to transition into nursing careers. USF’s College of Nursing received the gift from the Williams R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and will be used to establish the Second Degree Nursing Success Scholarship. USF offers an accelerated second degree bachelor of science in nursing program for college graduates wanting to transition into nursing. The program can be completed in 16 months.